A guided meditation with Buddhist teacher Joseph Goldstein. Here Joseph helps meditators examine and relate properly to emotional states of mind.
The fundamental philosophical principle of Buddhism is that all our suffering comes about as a result of an undisciplined mind, and this untamed mind itself comes about because of ignorance and negative emotions. For the Buddhist practitioner then, regardless of whether he or she follows the approach of the Fundamental Vehicle, Mahayana or Vajrayana, negative emotions are always the true enemy, a factor that has to be overcome and eliminated. And it is only by applying methods for training the mind that these negative emotions can be dispelled and eliminated. This is why in Buddhist writings and teachings we find such an extensive explanation of the mind and its different processes and functions. Since these negative emotions are states of mind, the method or technique for overcoming them must be developed from within. There is no alternative. They cannot be removed by some external technique, like a surgical operation."
~His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama from the book 'Dzogchen: The Heart Essence of the Great Perfection'
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Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become quieter and quieter in any surroundings. It will become still like a clear forest pool. Then all kinds of wonderful and rare animals will come to drink at the pool. You will see clearly the nature of all things (sankharas) in the world. You will see many wonderful and strange things come and go. But you will be still. Problems will arise and you will see through them immediately. This is the happiness of the Buddha.
~Ajahn Chah
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Well first of all, to my mind, we try to be present when we are drinking our tea, which isn't as easy as it sounds. It's very easy to think, right now I'm going to be really present while I'm drinking my tea, here I am drinking my tea, and I'm so present, look this is easy, I am here drinking my tea and I know I'm drinking my tea blah blah blah blah....right? And the one place where the mind is not, is here. It's just thinking about being here. So the first thing is to learn how to quiet the mind, relax the mind, and bring the awareness to the front so that we are conscious of what we're doing when we're doing it without all the commentary.
~ Tenzin Palmo
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Most people find it difficult to believe that a state of consciousness totally free of all negativity is possible. And yet this is the liberated state to which all spiritual teachings point. It is the promise of salvation, not in an illusory future but right here and now.
~Eckhart Tolle
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The Great Ones’ minds retain their balance by giving preference to the welfare of all
beings, by dislike of the suffering of all beings, by desire for the various successes
achieved by all beings to last, and by impartiality towards all. And to all beings they give
gifts, which are a source of pleasure, without discriminating thus: ‘It must be given to this
one; it must not be given to this one’. And in order to avoid doing harm to any beings
they undertake the precepts of virtue. They practice renunciation for the purpose of
perfecting their virtue. They cleanse their understanding for the purpose of nonconfusion
about what is good and bad for all beings. They constantly arouse energy,
having the welfare and happiness of all beings at heart. When they have acquired heroic
fortitude through supreme energy, they become patient with many kinds of faults
possessed by other beings. They do not deceive anyone. They are unshakably resolute
upon the welfare and happiness of all beings. Through unshakable loving-kindness they
place others first (before themselves). Through equanimity they expect no reward.
Having thus fulfilled the perfections, these divine abidings then perfect all the good
states. This is how they bring to perfection all the good states beginning with giving.
- From the Vissudhimagga (The Path of Purification)
May every being be happy and liberate themselves from the poisons of greed, hate and ignorance.